Drifting in the currents of the planar cosmos, a splinter of a deity’s eye is attracted by an event. It focuses downward across the planes until it reaches the prime material plane and on a tiny island in an underground passage it spies upon a confrontation. A large tall human male adeptly avoids a lunging attack by two huge albino crocodiles and the man trots back to an awaiting group in narrowing of the underground tunnel. The eye splinter notes the name Mojo from the human’s thoughts. As the human named Mojo takes up his position in the middle of the front line, his eyes quickly scans across those in the back ranks, the sweating faces, some with eyes wide with fear, others gripping weapons and items in a white-knuckled embrace as a few think running might be a good option. For Mojo, running is not the answer, just as he is confident the paladin on one side and the female warrior on the other share his determination to meet their attackers head-on. The sonic bass rumbling hiss, the thumping of trunk-like legs and the scaly scrape on rock indicate the time to focus is at hand and the battle is joined. The human named Mojo smiles in grim anticipation of the challenge.
The eye splinter and the back rank watch as both giant sized crocs attack directly at Mojo and despite his best attempts to parry and deflect away the combined assault, he is nearly ripped to pieces as claws rake his legs and jaws puncture his chest as the big human named Mojo staggers back and nearly falls to his knees. Only the determined attacks from the warrior and paladin that strike wounds cause the crocs to draw back for a bit. The sound of arrows loosed, magical chants and crackle of energy indicate the back ranks engaging in the battle only to be drowned out by a human scream of rage. Eyes flick over to see the tall human, Mojo, blood streaming from various rips and punctures of his body, a flap of flesh hanging off one side of his face. How is he still standing some think! His mouth open in full scream, white foamed flecks of spittle fly as he winds up his sword, a few of his comrades believe this is his death charge. As they watch, in his first half step, Mojo’s body begins to ripple and shift into bulging muscles, his wounds ceasing to bleed. In the next step, his body in an instant sprouts a full coat of dark gray hair, and in final step his scream of rage shifts octaves over into a howl and down into a guttural snarl which ends when his clawed furred hands gripping his sword is delivered in a blurring arc into a crocodile with a meaty thunk. Where once stood the man called Mojo, is now a beast wolf-man.
The two giant crocodiles seemed more incensed at this new foe and again launch dual attacks. The body of the wolf-man is clawed and ripped as more blood splatters the area and the gray fur is matted with rivulets of blood. The eye splinter is surprised as a human behind the wolf-man, bearing clerical tokens, hesitates for a second then reaches out to briefly touch the wolf-man. A flash of white and then a dim healing glow crosses across the wolf-man body, and the bleeding wounds are slowed to a trickle. Another surge of attacks from the humanoid group with grunts, curses and magic chants, one giant crocodile is pinned by a halberd allowing female warrior to deal a strike thru the neck upon which the giant croc shudders and falls dead. The second crocodile is stunned by magic missiles and then its skull crushed by the paladin's mace, its death throes marked by gnashing of teeth and slapping of its lizard tail.
The group’s adrenaline rush of triumph and survival is cut short as another howl echoes in the tunnel as all are suddenly reminded they still have an issue to deal with. Eyes wide in shock, the group sees the wolf man pivot to one side and deliver a powerful sweeping sword stroke directly at the female warrior next to him. She is able to recover and deflect the deadly stroke with a parry of her own weapon. The group reacts to aid their comrade to pummel and quickly subdue the bloodied wolf-man who falls unconscious. A torrent of curses, accusations and questions erupt from the remainder of the group that ceases a minute later when the wolf-man body twitches and ripples back to the form of the human named Mojo. As Mojo’s eyes flutter open for a second, a great cough of blood erupts and he falls over dying as the cleric rushes over in attempt to aid. The now bored splinter of a deity’s eye drifts back to the planar cosmos, the events it just watched….. forgotten.
The eye splinter and the back rank watch as both giant sized crocs attack directly at Mojo and despite his best attempts to parry and deflect away the combined assault, he is nearly ripped to pieces as claws rake his legs and jaws puncture his chest as the big human named Mojo staggers back and nearly falls to his knees. Only the determined attacks from the warrior and paladin that strike wounds cause the crocs to draw back for a bit. The sound of arrows loosed, magical chants and crackle of energy indicate the back ranks engaging in the battle only to be drowned out by a human scream of rage. Eyes flick over to see the tall human, Mojo, blood streaming from various rips and punctures of his body, a flap of flesh hanging off one side of his face. How is he still standing some think! His mouth open in full scream, white foamed flecks of spittle fly as he winds up his sword, a few of his comrades believe this is his death charge. As they watch, in his first half step, Mojo’s body begins to ripple and shift into bulging muscles, his wounds ceasing to bleed. In the next step, his body in an instant sprouts a full coat of dark gray hair, and in final step his scream of rage shifts octaves over into a howl and down into a guttural snarl which ends when his clawed furred hands gripping his sword is delivered in a blurring arc into a crocodile with a meaty thunk. Where once stood the man called Mojo, is now a beast wolf-man.
The two giant crocodiles seemed more incensed at this new foe and again launch dual attacks. The body of the wolf-man is clawed and ripped as more blood splatters the area and the gray fur is matted with rivulets of blood. The eye splinter is surprised as a human behind the wolf-man, bearing clerical tokens, hesitates for a second then reaches out to briefly touch the wolf-man. A flash of white and then a dim healing glow crosses across the wolf-man body, and the bleeding wounds are slowed to a trickle. Another surge of attacks from the humanoid group with grunts, curses and magic chants, one giant crocodile is pinned by a halberd allowing female warrior to deal a strike thru the neck upon which the giant croc shudders and falls dead. The second crocodile is stunned by magic missiles and then its skull crushed by the paladin's mace, its death throes marked by gnashing of teeth and slapping of its lizard tail.
The group’s adrenaline rush of triumph and survival is cut short as another howl echoes in the tunnel as all are suddenly reminded they still have an issue to deal with. Eyes wide in shock, the group sees the wolf man pivot to one side and deliver a powerful sweeping sword stroke directly at the female warrior next to him. She is able to recover and deflect the deadly stroke with a parry of her own weapon. The group reacts to aid their comrade to pummel and quickly subdue the bloodied wolf-man who falls unconscious. A torrent of curses, accusations and questions erupt from the remainder of the group that ceases a minute later when the wolf-man body twitches and ripples back to the form of the human named Mojo. As Mojo’s eyes flutter open for a second, a great cough of blood erupts and he falls over dying as the cleric rushes over in attempt to aid. The now bored splinter of a deity’s eye drifts back to the planar cosmos, the events it just watched….. forgotten.